The applicant company must be at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens.

Management and daily operation must be controlled by one or more of the women owners.

The women owners must make long-term decisions for the business.

One of the criteria below must also be true for CORPORATIONS ONLY:

Women must make up a majority of the Board of Directors OR have a majority of the Board votes through weighted voting.

Women must make up 51% of the voting power, sit on the Board AND have enough voting power to overcome any supermajority requirement.

WBENC uses a two part process to ensure that the applicant company meets the WBENC WOSB Standards. This will include a thorough review of the documentation presented and a site visit interview with the female owner/s.

Go to www.sam.gov NOTE: The is NO FEE required for SAM registration when using the correct government website provided.

Click on “Register/Update Entity” from My SAM menu

Click “Completed Registrations”

Select Company Name under Entity List

Click “View” under Registration Details

Opens into Entity Overview for printing

SAM registration must be validated before the status is listed as Active. This process may take 3-5 days.

One of the following documents must be submitted:

Printout of 1st page of IRS Form 941 (for previous 4 quarters)

W-3 from previous year

Current list of employees (ONLY if the previous two items do not apply to our company)

If you are a sole owner of the applicant company, please provide a statement listing yourself as the only employee

NOTE: In order to be processed for the WOSB certification, the company’s Primary NAICS Code must align with the Principal Business Activity listed on the company’s federal tax return.

How to Apply for WOSB Certification

If interested in WOSB certification, the applicant MUST select ‘Yes’ when answering the first question of the online application in Section 1: General Information, “Would you like to apply for WOSB certification?”NOTE: Applicants may only apply for WOSB Certification when applying as a new or recertifying WBE applicant.

Upload the WOSB Documentation listed in ‘Required Documents’ section

Once WOSB/WBENC Certification is Granted

Once WOSB/WBENC certification is granted, applicants must complete the additional United States SBA required steps to be eligible to participate in the WOSB Federal Contracting Program: